THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION AND THE REFUGEE CRISIS ON SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS

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OUR EXPERIENCEChurches and social organisations active at local/regional and national level

Engaged in reception and short term humanitarian assistance as well as mid to long term inclusion and integration activities

Working with document and undocumented migrants, refugees and asylum seekers

Able to share concrete feedback from Germany, Serbia, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia, Spain and France

This is not a new subject for us at EU level – already in 2013 we held a joint event with PICUM on Inclusion and Exclusion and in 2014 published a report on access to social and health services for migrants in Europe.

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EXPERIENCENot a new area of work for our members either but the scale and speed of arrivals has been the change with the result:

Unpreparedness – communities, ngos and local authorities, governments and public administration (and EU)

Lack of funds to provide the services needed immediately

No real planning and a lack of co-ordination

Public authorities abdicating responsibility to NGO’s – lack of accountability and partnership

Positive – where there were existing partnerships they have been used to set up new services

Once a commitment has been made to set up services and an economic commitment made by a public administration it has been respected (Italy)

Strong initial public support – but will it last?

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INITIAL ACTIONSReception services

Food

Shelter

Assistance with registrations

Adaptation/counselling

Connecting to local communities

What else is needed immediately?

Find ways for migrants to use their skills and abilities immediately to aid integration

Language courses

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INITIAL CONCERNSConcerns

Fundamental rights and humanitarian standards being disregarded

Reduction of quality standards for social services

Misunderstanding of what is and is not allowed

Officious bureaucracy of public administration (toilets!!)

Lack of appropriate infrastructure to even start the reception process (internet, equipment, people (Greece).

No funding available upfront – retrospective funding puts huge constraints on local organisations

Need to upgrade some facilities for them to be usable for the influx of people who have come and are still to come

Long delays for any type of juridical/administrative decision (Germany) – affects access to social and health benefits/schools/housing/work

Accessibility of health care

No attempts really at psycho-social counselling

Dignity of peoples’ lives being used as a political weapon

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MEDIUM TO LONG TERM ACTIONS

Addressing xenophobia and racism

Working as mediators between authorities and people

Providing advocacy, legal advice and representation

Literacy and language courses

Vocational training

Assisting with accessing the labour market (migrants bring net benefit in the long term and pay for pensions we could not afford (Italy))

Provision of healthcare to those excluded due to status

Secure housing

Integrated packages of social services – example from HungaryAccommodation, training as child care assistants, achievement of qualification, six month paid employment to get experience , language lessons, social network – funded by ESF

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WHAT IS NEEDED?Financial resources

Speedier access to targeted support thanks to quicker processing of demands

Increase in social infrastructure (housing, education, community facilities, health care)

Training for staff/volunteers to work with new groups and to ensure they are well equipped in a highly pressured situation/avoid burn out

Maintenance of existing quality standards

Access to health care

Employment policies to ensure migrants/refugees and asylum seekers do not end up in low paying, low skilled jobs by default

Agreement and implementation of basic social standards in the European Union regardless of origin/legal status

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WHAT IS NEEDED (2)Increase accountability of Member states as to their social assistance

Minimization of ‘competition’ between people requiring social assistance

Policies to support those whose applications for international protection are turned down

Political reflection as to whether or not Member States already experiencing pressure on their social protection systems can absorb increased pressure and still maintain/reach adequacy of income

Encourage social spending for all people in the AGS/CSRs 2016 and onwards

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FUNDING ISSUESLack of start up and retrospective funding

Some lack of clarity as to what is eligible and what is not

No long term funding (yet) - reception funding can be restricted (e.g. Italy, 6 months)

ESF funding is time bound – need sustainable programmes/longer periods

EU has to step in where national governments will not (e.g. Denmark)

The time it takes to access EU funds

The complexity of applying for AMIF or ESF funds

The need to have large scale projects rather than exploratory funds to co-ordinate, build capacity and provide immediate aid – we need ‘start up’ or ‘seed’ funding

Ongoing training for NGO’s to access EU funds

Timely information on what funds can be used (N.B. recent guide on ESF, FEAD and AIMF very helpful).

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PROPOSALSUse of left over ESF funds from 2007 – 2013 – proposal from Germany

‘start up’ fund for NGO’s etc. to be able to provide quality services immediately

Capacity building funds for the providers of services – short term and long term

Funds for the co-ordination of actions

Funds for the upgrading of buildings and facilities

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WHAT THE EU CAN DOGathering data (migrants participation in the labour market and/or other social inclusion programmes

Support the speeding up of targeted ESF/FEAD programmes

Targeted vocational training programmes and work on recognition of qualifications

Set up information hubs for Member States/NGO’s/migrants on what is available and what is possible re support

Straightforward information on funding possibilities and assistance to apply – it is in everyone’s interest.

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WHAT THE EU CAN DOEncourage investment in social infrastructure (use of EFSI or other funds?)

Challenge MS on unhelpful rhetoric

Engage with civil society/faith communities to have partnerships in addressing the situation

Set up a ‘starter’ fund and providing funding up front to NGO’s

Ensure consistency in social standards and rights

Challenge MS who do not allow public spending on some groups/avoid criminalisation of NGO’s

Work on anti-discrimination/xenophobia and anti-racism

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LONG TERM IMPLICATIONSPositive

Diverse societies and potential reversal of demographic (aging) trends

Increased workforce to be net contributors to social protection and pension schemes

Potential workers in sectors that are traditionally lacking in staff

Negative

More pressure on universal and targeted social benefits

More pressure on housing and other social infrastructure

Risk of poverty already high, may well get higher and people become trapped in low paying jobs

Focus on one group at the expense of others?

Without reform and investment social infrastructure could struggle in some member states.

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